Control of autonomous parking of vehicles to select optimal parking locations

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a request for autonomous parking of a vehicle; upon receiving the request, obtaining information as to a plurality of potential parking spots, including as to their respective effects on a temperature of the vehicle; selecting, via a processor of the vehicle, one of the plurality of potential parking spots as a selected parking spot for the vehicle, based on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle; and autonomously parking the vehicle in the selected parking spot, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for autonomous parking of a vehicle;   upon receiving the request, obtaining information as to a plurality of potential parking spots, including as to their respective effects on a temperature of the vehicle;   selecting, via a processor of the vehicle, one of the plurality of potential parking spots as a selected parking spot for the vehicle, based on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle; and   autonomously parking the vehicle in the selected parking spot, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step of obtaining the information comprises obtaining temperature data and light intensity data as to the plurality of potential parking spots; and   the selected parking spot is selected via the processor using the temperature data and the light intensity data.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected parking spot is selected via the processor based on a light intensity associated with the selected parking spot, in combination with weather conditions surrounding the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected parking spot is selected via the processor to be:
 a shaded parking spot when an ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold value and a light intensity from the sun exceeds a predetermined light intensity threshold; and   a sunny parking spot when the ambient temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold value and the light intensity from the sun is less than the predetermined light intensity threshold.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected parking spot is selected via the processor in a manner that maximizes a capacity of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) of the vehicle, based at least in part on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected parking spot is selected via the processor in a manner that maximizes a range of the vehicle, based at least in part on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected parking spot is selected via the processor in a manner that maximizes comfort of one or more passengers of the vehicle, based at least in part on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected parking spot is selected via the processor based also on a maximum time for parking. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected parking spot is selected via the processor based also on a maximum distance to a destination for a user of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 one or more sensors configured to at least facilitate:
 receiving a request for autonomous parking of a vehicle; 
 upon receiving the request, obtaining information as to a plurality of potential parking spots, including as to their respective effects on a temperature of the vehicle; and 
   a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and that is configured to at least facilitate:
 selecting one of the plurality of potential parking spots as a selected parking spot for the vehicle, based on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle; and 
 autonomously parking the vehicle in the selected parking spot, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the one or more sensors are configured to at least facilitate obtaining temperature data and light intensity data as to the plurality of potential parking spots; and   the processor is further configured to at least facilitate selecting the selected parking spot using the temperature data and the light intensity data.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate selecting the selected parking spot based on a light intensity associated with the selected parking spot, in combination with weather conditions surrounding the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate selecting the selected parking spot to be:
 a shaded parking spot when an ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold value and a light intensity from the sun exceeds a predetermined light intensity threshold; and   a sunny parking spot when the ambient temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold value and the light intensity from the sun is less than the predetermined light intensity threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate selecting the selected parking spot in a manner that maximizes a capacity of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) of the vehicle, based at least in part on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate selecting the selected parking spot in a manner that maximizes a range of the vehicle, based at least in part on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate selecting the selected parking spot in a manner that maximizes comfort of one or more passengers of the vehicle, based at least in part on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate selecting the selected parking spot based also on a maximum time for parking. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate selecting the selected parking spot based also on a maximum distance to a destination for a user of the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle comprising:
 a drive system;   one or more sensors configured to at least facilitate:
 receiving a request for autonomous parking of the vehicle; 
 upon receiving the request, obtaining information as to a plurality of potential parking spots, including as to their respective effects on a temperature of the vehicle; and 
   a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and that is configured to at least facilitate:
 selecting one of the plurality of potential parking spots as a selected parking spot for the vehicle, based on the information, including the respective effects on the temperature of the vehicle; and 
 autonomously parking the vehicle in the selected parking spot, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor that are carried out by the drive system. 
   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate selecting the selected parking spot to be:
 a shaded parking spot when an ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold value and a light intensity from the sun exceeds a predetermined light intensity threshold; and   a sunny parking spot when the ambient temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold value and the light intensity from the sun is less than the predetermined light intensity threshold.